Montauk Point

Suffolk County, NY

The eastern tip of Long Island — "the Surfcasting Capital of the World," where striped bass and bluefish blitz the rips and rocks below the lighthouse through the legendary fall run, with summer fluke on the surrounding bottom. Live tide and water temperature from the Montauk NOAA station.

Live · updated

Summer Flounder — Great day to fish for Summer Flounder.

Best conditions of 3 species tracked at Montauk Point.

84 /100
great
Air Temp
74°F
Sunny
Wind
7 mph
SE
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
Pressure
Steady
6-hour trend
Water Temp
72°F
Tidal waters
Tide
outgoing
Sunrise
5:25 AM
Sunset
8:20 PM
Moon · 4%
new
Time Type Height
2:04 AM Low 0.0 ft
7:24 AM High 2.1 ft
1:48 PM Low 0.2 ft
8:01 PM High 3.2 ft

3 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top pick is open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.

#1 Summer Flounder Great day to fish for Summer Flounder. In season 84/100

What's helping

  • 72°F water — inside summer flounder's active range
  • outgoing tide — summer flounder prefers outgoing tide
  • 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

About. Paralichthys dentatus — Locally called "fluke." Flatfish that ambushes bait off sandy and mixed bottom. Drifting bucktails tipped with Gulp! or live minnows through Ocean City and Chincoteague inlets is the classic method.

Prefers. Water 58–75°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 10–100 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →

Min size
19"
Daily creel
6

19" minimum, 6 fish/day, Apr 1–Dec 31.

Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-05-29.

#2 Bluefish Great day to fish for Bluefish. In season 80/100

What's helping

  • 72°F water — right in bluefish's ideal range
  • 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • outgoing tide — bluefish prefers incoming tide

About. Pomatomus saltatrix — Toothy, aggressive pelagic predator. "Snapper blues" invade the lower Bay and coastal bays in summer; bigger choppers along the Atlantic coast. Hits metal jigs, topwater, and cut bait savagely — wire leaders recommended.

Prefers. Water 60–80°F (ideal 70°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–50 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →

Daily creel
5

No minimum size. 5 fish/day from shore or private boat (more on for-hire vessels).

Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-05-29.

#3 Striped Bass Workable day for Striped Bass. In season 68/100

What's helping

  • 72°F water — inside striped bass's active range
  • 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • outgoing tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide

About. Morone saxatilis — Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."

Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–35 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →

Min size
28"
Max size
31"
Daily creel
1

28–31" slot, 1 fish/day. Inline (non-offset) circle hooks required when fishing with bait.

Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-05-29.

Water Body

Atlantic Ocean

Region

Long Island

Access

Pier, shore, and ramp

Jurisdiction

New York

Coordinates

41.0700, -71.8570

Notes

NY: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). The fall blitz off the Point is a bucket-list surf fishery.

Local reports & rules for Montauk Point: New York DEC fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisory →

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Montauk Point?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Montauk Point you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Montauk Point?

Montauk Point is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Montauk Point?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Montauk Point against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Montauk Point have?

Montauk Point has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. NY: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). The fall blitz off the Point is a bucket-list surf fishery.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Montauk Point?

state agency regulations apply at Montauk Point. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Montauk Point tidal water?

Yes. Montauk Point sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.

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